The Balvenie 40 Year Old vs Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Balvenie
★ 4.80
£7225
Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky
Karuizawa
★ 5.00
£6896
| The Balvenie 40 Year Old | Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Balvenie | Karuizawa |
| Region | Speyside | — |
| Country | Scotland | Japan |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 42.2% | 60.7% |
| Age | 40 yr | 32 yr |
| Price | £7225 | £6895.94 |
| Rating | 4.80/5 | 5.00/5 |
The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky
The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky
Quick verdict
Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.80).
Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky is better value at £6896 vs £7225.
For beginners: The Balvenie 40 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).
The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
- +Longer maturation (40 vs 32 years)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −More expensive (£7225 vs £6895.94)
- −Lower community rating (4.8 vs 5.0)
Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky
Pros
- +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
- +More affordable (£6895.94 vs £7225)
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
- +Rich oak and wood spice complexity
Cons
- −High ABV (60.7%) — may need water
Who should buy The?
The Balvenie 40 Year Old is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.
Who should buy Karuizawa?
Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.
Tasting notes
Both taste of
Only The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Only Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1977 (cask 4592) - Noh Whisky